Using digital technologies and artificial intelligence for pandemic response & preparedness
Vancouver, British Columbia [May 26, 2020] – The Digital Technology Supercluster (the “Supercluster”) COVID-19 Program now includes a growing suite of projects offering solutions to urgent health care needs across Canada arising from COVID-19.
These projects focus on delivering digital solutions, including handheld diagnosis devices for use in rural and remote communities, virtual health care services – vital to protect patients from risk of infection – a forecasting model that accurately predicts mutations of the COVID-19 virus, and a platform that uses artificial intelligence to quickly identify new treatments.
These new projects are part of the Supercluster’s previously announced $60 million investment to fight COVID-19. This investment is designed to address some of the biggest hurdles facing Canada’s response to the virus, including the need for faster, more efficient detection and treatment, more effective resource allocation, more accurate diagnosis tools for communities located outside of urban centers, and more widely available virtual care.
By tackling these challenges, the new projects will help protect the health and safety of vulnerable Canadians, such as those relying on home care, while developing technologies that bolster our digital economy.
“Organizations in our Supercluster are uniquely positioned to support our healthcare sector in addressing the complex problems COVID-19 has created,” said Sue Paish, CEO of the Digital Technology Supercluster. “These projects are clear examples of how collaborative innovation allows us to tackle Canada’s most urgent needs head on. Looking ahead, we also know these solutions will better prepare us for future pandemic scenarios.”
The Supercluster’s COVID-19 Program supports Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19. “Together, with industry, our government is working quickly to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. I am happy to see how Canada’s tech community has come together to find innovative solutions in the fight against COVID-19, while leveraging technology to better prepare for future pandemics,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
The new projects announced today complement the Supercluster’s previously announced projects including the COVID-19 Beacon, and the Rapid Repurposing of Drugs for COVID-19.
The Supercluster’s ongoing focus through its Precision Health Program creates a unique opportunity to leverage the existing specialized group of health-sector Supercluster Members to address the challenges created by COVID-19. For example, existing members Providence Health Care, Careteam Technologies, DNAstack, and many more are now also contributing to the COVID-19 Program.
More information about these projects can be found here. Information about the COVID-19 Program can be found here.
Media Inquiries: For more information, please contact Elysa Darling at elysa@switchboardpr.com or 587-890-9833. For media assets, click here. Interview opportunities with Sue Paish, CEO, Digital Technology Supercluster, are available upon request.
About Digital Technology Supercluster:
The Digital Technology Supercluster solves some of industry’s and society’s biggest problems through Canadian-made technologies. We bring together private and public sector organizations of all sizes to address challenges facing Canada’s economic sectors including healthcare, natural resources, manufacturing and transportation. Through this ‘collaborative innovation’ the Supercluster helps to drive solutions better than any single organization could on its own. The Digital Technology Supercluster is led by industry leaders such as D-Wave, Finger Food Advanced Technology Group, LifeLabs, LlamaZOO, Lululemon, MDA, Microsoft, Mosaic Forest Management, Sanctuary AI, Teck Resources Limited, TELUS, Terramera, and 1Qbit. Together, we work to position Canada as a global hub for digital innovation. A full list of Members can be found here.
About the COVID-19 Program:
The COVID-19 Program aims to improve the health and safety of Canadians and support Canada’s ability to address issues created by the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the program will build expertise and capacity to anticipate and address issues that may arise in future health crises, from healthcare to a return to work and community. More information can be found here.